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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Rep. Marilyn Lee Interviews Suzanne Jones on Honolulu Recycling

On the upcoming episode of "Kukui Connection" Rep Marilyn Lee (District 38 - Mililani, Mililani Mauka) talks to Suzanne Jones (left), Branch Chief of the Recycling program within the Department of Environmental Services at the City and County of Honolulu. Jones is considered one of the city's experts on protecting the environment through waste management and recycling. She has served in her position since 1989.

When Jones was first hired to start the recycling program at the City, H-Power was just coming online. Prior to H-Power, almost everything was dumped into the landfill at Waimanalo Gulch on the Waianae Coast. Today, Oahu generates more than 1.2 million tons of solid waste every year. Had it not been for the foresight of City leaders to embark upon H-Power technology, our waste management system would be sorely inadequate. We divert more than 70% of the waste from the landfill to H-Power. Being an island, that figure is good, but the goal is to get it down to almost zero if possible.

That said, Honolulu is considered one of the most green cities for its size given our recycling efforts.

Jones explains:

*The relationship between the City and State on recycling efforts
*Curbside recycling
*How those who don't have curbside recycling can still recycle - i.e. businesses, condos
*How recycling has reduced litter
*How schools and non-profits can fundraise through the HI-5 (bottle recycling) program
*What things are we not recycling that can be considered for the future
*How to determine what kind of plastics can be recycled - the difference between #1 and #2
*Website is opala.org
*City is about to launch a phone APP
*Convenience is the key to more recycling participation
*What happens to the green waste

Don't miss this fact-filled show on Honolulu's recycling program and why we're one of the Top 3 green cities in the country.

The show airs on Friday, September 21, 2012 at 8:30 p.m. on Olelo, Channel 54. It repeats on Sunday, September 23rd and Sunday, September 30th, at 4 p.m., same channel.